IS MY ELECTRICAL PANEL SAFE

Let's talk how about the safety of your electrical panel. 

Many houses built from the 1950's to the 1980's were built with a 60 amp electrical panel.  Some of these houses were built with fuses and knob and tube wiring.  These 60 amp panels and the like worked well with the electronics that were available then.  Today, homes should have at least 150 amps.  With the upgrading of the National Electrical Code laws houses with a fuse box and/or knob and tube wiring cannot be sold unless they are upgraded to circuit breakers.  Home owners who still have this type of wiring are playing Russian roulette with their home and family.

The basics of the circuit breakers inside your electrical panel are designed to guard your home's electrical system against circuit overload, short circuits and outside power surges coming into the panel.  When an overload occurs, a breaker protects you by tripping, thus shutting down the power to the circuit.  However, if a breaker is defective or not operating properly, the risk of fire to the panel and consequently to your home becomes imminent.

During the 1950's to the 1980's many homes were  installed with two potentially dangerous electrical panels and breakers.  These two electrical panels have major manufacturing and design flaws that put homeowners and their families at risk.  They are Federal Pacific and Zinsco Electrical Panels.  These panels were known to overheat and cause fires.  One of the earlier Federal Pacific panel designs was called the Stab-lok residential circuit breakers and panels. There are millions of people today who have panels that are more than 40 years old.  These outdated panels may no longer protect their homes from over-currents and short circuits.

This video is real, from Channel 4 I-Team: Faulty Circuit Breakers in Thousands of Homes Could Cause Firehttp://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/Federal-Pacific-Electric-Circuit-Breakers-Fire-Danger-I-Team-149541115.html

If you think you may have a Federal Pacific Electric, Zinsco, or an outdated circuit breaker panel (including knob & tube or fuses) in your home you u owe it to yourself and your family to contact Sylvia Electrical Contracting for a free estimate to upgrade your electrical service.

Here are a few of the warning signs that your electrical panel needs to be updated:

One of the most important warning signs of an unsafe electrical panel is overheating. This usually occurs at the electrical panel, breaker, switch or outlet. If you open the door to your electrical panel and feel heat, there is a problem. The same applies for switches and outlets.

•  If you have breakers that seem to trip off more that occasionally or if there are burn marks you should call Sylvia Electrical as soon as possible. This could mean there is too much power being used on that circuit. This also applies to a GFCI in an outlet keeps tripping.

• Damage caused by rodents. Rodents have been known to chew through wire insulation in electrical panels (and other areas), creating an unsafe condition. Rodents have been electrocuted this way, leaving an unsightly mess inside the panel.

• Evidence of water inside the electrical panel. Moisture can corrode circuit breakers so that they won't trip, make connections less reliable, and make the equipment unsafe to touch. 

So if you own a home between 25 and 60 years old go and check your electrical panel.  A Federal Pacific panel generally has its name or logo on the front cover. If you look inside you will find the name Stab-Lok printed near the center or side of the panel. The intact breakers will have the signature red strip that runs across the front.  If you find you do have a Federal Pacific panel or Stab-Lok breakers, Zinsco Panel, a fuse box or knob & tube wiring, call Sylvia Electrical Contracting a 978-535-6661.

Be safe, call today.

Here are some pictures of the panels to look for:

 Federal Pacific

Zinsco

 Fuse Box

knob & tube wiring

IT'S NOT TOO LATE

The dog days of summer are upon us and it's not too late to finish those summer projects.  We are experts on pool installations, landscape lighting, ceiling fan installations, and back up generator installations.  We will expertly mount that large screen TV you may have recently purchased. 

An electrical project isn't something you want to leave to amateurs.  After all, the safety of your family, business and home may be at risk.  Improper wiring can be very dangerous and can lead to fires, putting everyone at risk.  The professional electricians at Sylvia Electrical will see to it that your electrical job is done properly, on time and up-to-code. 

An electrician is someone who specializes in the wiring and repair of electrical mechanisms. When you need an electrician be sure to choose the right one. Licensed electricians are needed to re-wire or repair existing systems. They are also needed for construction, including additions and new remodels, to place the electrical outlets, electric panels, and accent lighting.

An electrical contractor company designs, installs, maintains and repairs residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems and electrical projects.  This covers upgrading and doing electric repairs on electrical panels, control panels, electrical boxes and electric motors;  servicing of street lights, parking lot lighting, landscaping lighting, commercial lights and security lighting and the provision of all the required electrical parts and supplies for such projects.

A licensed electrician or electrical contractor can manage all electrical work indoors and outdoors within the property boundary lines of their industrial, commercial or residential customer.  This includes troubleshooting electric meters, circuit breakers, junction boxes, fuse boxes and fuses, switches, electric wires,  recessed lighting, hot tubs and spas, home theater and water heaters. If your house was built before 1950 chances are you have knob and tube in your home.  Having this type of wiring is not safe or insurable.

Sylvia Electrical Contracting can also handle low-voltage power installations and work on solar energy, wind energy, power monitoring, emergency electrical and lighting systems for auxiliary power generators; climate control systems which include fire alarms, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and exhaust fans, telecommunications systems including closed circuit television, fiber optics, wireless networks and security systems.

Call Sylvia Electrical today for a free estimate.  Our electricians are licensed and insured.  Call us today at 877-535-6661

 

SERVICES WE OFFER TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Often times we forget just how much we depend on electricians and electrical contractors.  Here are some of the services that Sylvia Electrical can offer both residential and business  owners. 

If your lights flicker, you have had water damage, added an addition or remodel an electrical panel upgrade would be in order.  Perhaps your house was built during the 1950's when knob and tube wiring was currently being used.  In 2012 knob and tube wiring needs to be replaced if you are selling your house or trying to obtain home insurance.  It can be potentially unsafe if not checked and updated.

Are you the type of homeowner that uses extension cords and  outlet strips in your home.  It may be time to have a licensed, insured electrician in your area install additional electrical outlets.  Do you want to update a room?  A quick fix would be to install new fixtures, track lighting or recessed fixtures.  If you would like another alternative to expensive air conditioning, have a ceiling fan installed.  They are cooling and more energy efficient.  These inexpensive updates can seem intimidating to many homeowners.  Call Sylvia Electrical for prices that will make it a worthwhile investment.

As you are aware televisions are getting bigger and bigger.  They no longer sit on a small tv stand in a room.  They are high definition wall mounted televisions.  If you do not want to see wires and wire mold coming down the wall, call us.  Our electricians can install outlets on the wall and hide the wires for a professional clean look.  If you need telephone, cable or internet wiring, we can handle that.

Maybe you have installed a new hot tub, spa, or swimming pool.  Remember that these need special GFI outlets and wiring.  This must be done to comply with the National Electrical code and for safety reasons.  Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.

We have not forgotten our commercial customers.  We are experts at commercial and tenant suit ups.  Our licensed electricians can upgrade panels to accommodate new equipment.  We can install motors, exhaust fans and transformers.  We can offer insightful alternatives to adding energy to help your company move ahead.  Owner Steve Sylvia, master electrician and electrical contractor can design all phases of electrical installations.

Safety is always a concern.  Installing landscape lighting and video surveillance equipment can help to keep family and businesses safe.  Sylvia Electrical can offer a wide array of outdoor lighting ideas and surveillance equipment.  Don't let summer storms or severe winter weather keep you in the dark.  We are certified generator installers.  There are generator for every need.

Call 877-535-6661 for a free estimate to discuss your business or residential needs.

• Electrical Panel Upgrades
• Electrical Outlet and Fixture Installation
• Generator Installation for commercial and residential customers
• Commercial and Tenant Suit-ups
• New and Remodel Residential Construction
• Motors, Exhaust Fans, and Transformers
• Appliance circuits, hot tubs and spas & landscape lighting
• Telephone, cable, and Internet wiring
• Flat Screen TV installation
• Recessed lighting, track lighting, dimmers & cabinet lighting
• Electrical Code corrections
• Designing all phase Electrical Installations
• Ceiling Fan Installations
• Knob and Tube Wiring
• Solar Installations
• Video Surveillance
  
  

    

KNOB AND TUBE WIRING

KNOB AND TUBE WIRING, A NO NO NOW------

Knob and tube wiring is now considered outdated and unsafe.

This means that knob and tube wiring is out and Romex (described below) is in.

One of the problems with knob and tube wiring is that over time, wires will deteriorate and fray.

If you would have knob and tube wiring in your home today and your home would be inspected for any home renovation project, it would be necessary to replace the knob and tube wiring.

The knobs are porcelain insulators that suspend the wiring in the air to dissipate the heat. These were used for wiring that ran through the rafters and studs.

Romex is used today and has an insulated coating making it easy to attach to rafters and studs without the need for dissipating the heat.

Knob and tube wiring does not have a ground conductor. The switch for turning off the neutral wire would turn off the circuit but it would not turn off the current.

Knob and tube wiring cannot be placed near insulation. With Romex, you can properly insulate your home according to today’s current standards.

Professional, licensed and insured electricians are trained in every aspect of wiring and will know how to replace the knob and tube wiring correctly.

In an effort to keep your home up to code and to keep your family safe from fire hazards or personal injury, you should always use the services of a professional electrician.

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